If the Orlando Magic are going to find a new home for Dwight Howard, they'll have to do it without the help of the Cavaliers.

The Cavs pulled out of the potential blockbuster trade on Tuesday afternoon, Yahoo! Sports reported.

There could be a number of reasons for backing out of the four-team deal.

-- The Cavs refused to sign power forward Kris Humphries to a multiyear deal. According to the collective bargaining agreement, in a sign-and-trade, Humphries would have to sign at least a three-year deal, with one year fully guaranteed.

Advertisement

The Cavs didn't want to commit to Humphries past one year. His agent, Dan Fegan, wants a four-year guarantee, according to reports.

-- The Cavaliers weren't crazy about the other two players they were getting in the proposed trade -- swingman Quentin Richardson (long past his prime) and point guard Sundiata Gaines, a journeyman at best.

-- Why would the Cavs help a team in their conference, the Brooklyn Nets, get the best center in the NBA? This is a team they'd have to eventually beat in the playoffs if they get there. Many think the Nets will turn into a superpower by adding Howard to their All-Star backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.

-- The coveted draft pick the Cavs were getting -- a first-rounder from Brooklyn in 2013 -- would likely be in the No. 25 range. That's not enough to take on so much salary in Humphries, Richardson and Gaines. Sure, the Cavs want to stockpile first-round picks, but this one isn't that attractive.

So the Cavs backed out. There were rumors on Monday night that they were starting to separate themselves from the blockbuster.

With major salary-cap space, the Cavs could include themselves in another such deal. A league source said he expects the Cavs to make some player movement in the next week or so.

Howard has told the Magic the only team he'll sign an extension with is Brooklyn. The Nets were the driving force behind enlisting the Cavs and Los Angeles Clippers in the proposed four-team deal. The entire trade is now in jeopardy.

The Magic are now talking to the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Bobcats.

An Andrew Bynum-Howard trade makes some sense, since they are the top two centers in the NBA. However, neither player would commit to signing an extension with the other team, according to reports.

A source said the Bobcats have no interest in guard MarShon Brooks, and Charlotte wasn't very interested in signing Humphries to a multiyear deal, either.

If the Hawks made forward/center Al Horford available, they would be a major player for Howard.

One thing muddying the waters of the potential trade is Fegan represents both Howard and Humphries. What is good for one client might not be good for the other.